Clarksville to host National Night Out

SoVaNow.com / July 31, 2013

Clarksville is hosting the 30th annual National Night on Tuesday, Aug. 6, part of a national and local effort to put an end to crime. This year’s event is in the parking lot behind Wells Fargo, and will include bluegrass music by Higrass, a moon bounce for the children, refreshments, prizes, school supplies, educational material, and much more.

The crime and drug prevention event is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) and co-sponsored locally by the Mecklenburg County Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Coalition. This year’s corporate sponsors are Target, Nextdoor.com, and Associa.

From 6-8 p.m., people throughout Mecklenburg County, but especially in Clarksville, are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and police. Everyone in Mecklenburg County is invited and encouraged to participate.

National Night Out is designed to: heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime efforts; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. Over 15,325 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world are expected to join in the event. In all, over 37.5 million people are expected to participate in “America’s Night Out Against Crime.”

In Mecklenburg County, the responsibility for hosting the National Night Out moves from town to town each year. Last year, South Hill’s Centennial Park was the site for the local celebration of National Night Out.

National Project Coordinator Matt Peskin said, “This is a night for America to stand together to promote awareness, safety, and neighborhood unity. National Night Out showcases the vital importance of police-community partnerships and citizen involvement in our fight to build a safer nation. On National Night Out, we invite neighborhoods nationwide to join us in Giving Crime & Drugs A Going Away Party.

For more information about the event contact Hattie Farrar at (434) 738-6191 ext. 4355, or Bonnie Chapman at (434) 247-1695.